Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) today reiterated its commitment to growing its presence in Asia with new investments of two Technology & Innovation Centers in China and India, and a new project to produce polycarbonate (PC) in China.

SABIC chairman, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud commented from Guangzhou, Guangdong, "These new investments reflect SABIC?s dedication to further expand our home market in Asia and highlights the importance we attach to our customers, partners and employees. In addition to these investments, SABIC is constantly improving assets, expanding offices across Asia, exploring other opportunities, and seeking new partnerships.? Prince Saud is currently visiting China for a series of high-level meetings with officials from the private and public sectors and supporting SABIC?s participation in Chinaplas 2011.

Asia is SABIC's fastest growing region with strong double digit growth since its establishment in 1985 and it has clearly become the most important engines of growth for SABIC globally.

"Our strong presence in Asia reflects our ambition to be the preferred petrochemical supplier in this important region. SABIC has embarked on a series of infrastructure expansions as part of our growth plans here. These include our offices, manufacturing and Technology & Innovation operations across 13 key markets, supported by 2,000 employees. Our focus remains on helping our customers create products that would improve the quality of life around the world," said Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, at a media conference held alongside Chinaplas 2011.

Commitment to local partnerships

A key milestone of these new investments is the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sinopec to collaborate on PC production with an annual capacity of 260 kilo metric tonnes in China. The new PC production plant will be located in Tianjin-based SSTPC (SINOPEC SABIC Tianjin Petrochemical Company) and is expected to be operational by 2015.

This MOU further strengthens SABIC?s partnership with SINOPEC, which started in October 2009 with the establishment of SSTPC. Fully operational since 2010, SSTPC produces key petrochemical products to customers across diverse industries in China.

Expanding T&I and operations

SABIC is strengthening its presence in the regions with two upcoming Technology and Innovation (T&I) centres strategically located in China and India.

The T&I centre in Shanghai, China will house the new Greater China Regional Headquarters (RHQ) occupying 60,000 sqm. This Centre will oversee regional operations, sales and marketing, and spearhead research and development of new and innovative petrochemical products for Asia. While the T&I centre in Bangalore spanning 187,000 sqm focuses on diverse areas of research. Both centres are expected to be operational in 2013.

Showcasing a Culture of Innovation at Chinaplas

SABIC?s theme for Chinaplas 2011, ?A Culture of Innovation?, captures the company?s aspiration to grow even further through new and innovative technologies with a focus on sustainability, as well as deepening relationships with customers and partners.

Some of the key new products and applications at SABIC?s Chinaplas booth ((Booth No: 10.2E21) include:

? The all-new Range Rover Evoque ? the lightest, smallest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever. This car, highlighting SABIC?s lightweight and environmentally responsible materials, is 35% lighter than Land Rover?s 2010 Range Rover Sport model and will reduced CO2 emissions

? Some 55 applications across diverse industries including Infrastructure, Building & Construction, Household, Film and Packaging, Automotive and Transportation, and Fiber & Textile

SABIC has also made numerous new product announcements today. These products further reaffirmed SABIC?s commitment to providing innovative and environmentally-sustainable materials to its customers. Some of these announcements include:

? The addition of PC resin to Innovative Plastics? already expansive PC offering. The new transparent PC resin is targeted for high-volume extrusion, custom compounding, general purpose and optical-quality applications

? An industry first new custom-colorable LNP Thermocomp thermoplastic compound for laser direct structuring (LDS) to save space, reduce the weight and create more design options for mobile devices. LDS is a sophisticated process for integrating electronic and mechanical functionality into a single module, such as mobile phone and notebook antennas

? A pioneering concept in low-density polyethylene and linear-low-density polyethylene (LD/LLDPE) which marks a new approach to leveraging SABIC?s world-class polyolefin portfolio

? SABIC LDPE UMS pushes the limits in performance, cost-efficiency and sustainability for PE foam applications